Uptown Voices

Uptown Voices in collaboration with Livin' Americana LLC and Uptown Collective LLC

Uptown Voices tells the stories of unsung heroes who are transforming New York City's Uptown neighborhoods from Washington Heights to Inwood to Harlem to the South Bronx. Each episode profiles an individual or organization making a positive difference. These social entrepreneurs, artists, and community leaders are navigating critical issues of affordability, public safety, and mental health. Through conversations rooted in journalistic integrity and genuine community ties, this podcast challenges negative narratives and celebrates the true spirit of the vibrant neighborhoods thriving north of Central Park. Each episode features extended interviews in which subjects tell their stories in their own words. The series examines the interconnected challenges facing Uptown communities—gentrification pressures, resource scarcity, systemic inequities—while simultaneously showcasing the creativity and collective power emerging in response. While uplifting the people shaping Uptown’s future, the podcast holds local elected officials accountable for the promises they make. During this pivotal time, Uptown Voices is creating a unique audiovisual archive. Uptown Voices is a fiscally sponsored project of the Maysles Documentary Center. Make a tax-deductible contribution to our program here: https://bit.ly/4eddiWT

  1. Juilliard Trained, South Bronx Made: How Zulaika Velazquez Is Transforming Uptown Kids Through the Arts | Uptown Voices

    12H AGO

    Juilliard Trained, South Bronx Made: How Zulaika Velazquez Is Transforming Uptown Kids Through the Arts | Uptown Voices

    What does it look like when someone takes everything life threw at them  — homelessness, single motherhood at 19, a stage two cancer diagnosis  — and turns it into fuel to transform an entire community? Meet Zulaika Velazquez. In this episode of Uptown Voices, Led Black and Octavio  Blanco sit down with one of Northern Manhattan's most extraordinary  educators, directors, and community builders. Zulaika is a South Bronx  native, Juilliard-trained, and the woman who produced In the Heights at  George Washington High School — with Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jon M. Chu, and  Warner Brothers in the audience. But this conversation goes far deeper  than theater. 🎭 DISTRICT 6 SHOWCASE — MAY 29TH AT UNITED PALACE 750 students, K–12, from 37 schools. Free, open to the public. Art  exhibit from 4 PM, performances 5–7 PM. The only district-wide production  of its kind in the country. 🏫 THERE ARE NO BAD KIDS Why labeling schools and students ignores the real story — underfunded  classrooms, overcrowded schools, and kids reacting to their circumstances.  Change the resources, change the outcomes. 🌎 ARTS AS LANGUAGE ACQUISITION Kids who didn't speak a word of English performed a full two-hour  production in English at United Palace by year's end. The method works. 🎬 IN THE HEIGHTS AT GW While on chemo, Zulaika produced In the Heights at GW with a 250-person  waiting list. Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jon M. Chu, and Bette Midler's team  were in the house. It made Oprah Magazine. 🎓 GETTING UPTOWN KIDS INTO SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOLS Why performing arts schools are harder to get into than Stuyvesant —  and how to level the playing field. 🤖 ARTS IN THE AGE OF AI Why humanities, critical thinking, and storytelling are the skills  AI can't replace. 🗳️ CIVIC EDUCATION IN THE CLASSROOM How Zulaika navigates politics with students — research the platforms,  register to vote, understand why local elections matter most. 📌 zulaika@spanglishvoces.com ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 There Are No Bad Kids — Opening Statement 01:08 Welcome & Subscribe Reminder 02:06 Introducing Zulaika Velazquez 04:12 District 6 Showcase at United Palace 05:27 750 Students K–12: The Scale of It 06:19 Respecting Every Artist's Work 07:41 The Jukebox Musical Format Explained 08:12 The Only Production of Its Kind Nationwide 09:05 How It Started in 2017 10:46 Free & Open to the Public — May 29th Details 12:10 From South Bronx to Juilliard 14:12 Opera, Word Painting & Why She Left Classical 17:38 Vagina Monologues in Spanish & Arts as Activism 18:05 Language Acquisition Through Musical Theater 19:01 Full English Musical With Non-English Speakers 20:06 Getting Uptown Kids Into Specialized High Schools 22:01 Theater as Community Space at GW 22:20 In the Heights at George Washington High School 35:08 Stage Two Cancer & the Kids Who Showed Up 37:00 Warner Brothers, Lin-Manuel Miranda & Jon M. Chu 39:35 Oprah Magazine & Breaking the Internet 40:57 Latin Grammy Foundation & $40K in Instruments 42:50 LaGuardia vs. GW: The Real Competition 46:20 Arts in the Age of AI 47:07 Saving Lives: Newly Arrived Students & Changed Trajectories 48:09 When the System Fails Newly Arrived Students 52:28 Student Strikes, Civic Power & Social Activism 56:28 How to Get Teenagers to Listen 58:00 The NYC Subway Metaphor for Life 01:02:20 Students, Trump, Andrew Tate & Open Conversations 01:05:51 Research the Platforms, Register to Vote 01:08:54 The Student Who Was Homeless & Became Pro-Trump 01:09:31 Making Better Human Beings Through Art 01:10:29 How to Reach Zulaika & May 29th Details 🎙️ The Uptown Collective documents the culture, community, and voices  that make Northern Manhattan one of the most extraordinary places  in the world. ▶️ SUBSCRIBE: https://youtube.com/@uptowncollective?si=68xPv3IIxHrhJ2BQ 🔔 Hit the bell. Like. Share. It costs nothing and means everything. ❤️ SUPPORT UPTOWN VOICES — TAX DEDUCTIBLE The Uptown Collective Podcast is a fiscally sponsored project of the  Maysles Documentary Center — your contribution is 100% tax-deductible. 👉 Donate: https://bit.ly/4eddiWT 📺 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBmbtE4yILFqSWCJtf2Day6NBwHp2FYkU Spread love — it's the Uptown way. 💙

    1h 13m
  2. From the First Latino Blog in 1997 to the Future of the Creator Economy: George Torres, Urban Jibaro

    3D AGO

    From the First Latino Blog in 1997 to the Future of the Creator Economy: George Torres, Urban Jibaro

    What does it take to build a 30-year career in tech, media, and social media before anyone else in your community even knew those were careers? Ask George Torres — the Urban Jibaro. In this episode of Black & Blanco Uptown Voices, Led Black and Octavio Blanco sit down with George Torres, a true Latino pioneer in the digital space. George created the first Latino blog on the internet in 1997 — before social media, before smartphones, before most people had a computer at home. Three decades later, he's still ahead of everyone. This conversation is essential listening for creators, entrepreneurs, podcasters, and anyone building a personal brand in the digital age. 🖥️ THE FIRST LATINO BLOG (1997) — George built Sofrito for Your Soul on GeoCities and grew it into an international audience before most people had internet at home. 🏷️ PERSONAL BRANDING — He's worked with Lin-Manuel Miranda, HBO, Disney, CNN, JetBlue, Fat Joe, Angie Martinez, John Leguizamo, Hot 97, and Univision. Most people don't know it. He breaks down why staying humble is leaving money on the table. 📱 THE FUTURE OF THE CREATOR ECONOMY — Big corporations are outsourcing. Individual creators are filling the gap. George explains what that means for anyone building right now. 💰 KNOW YOUR WORTH — The story of running a Twitter campaign for Top Five and discovering he was charging 10 times less than the actual budget. 🏥 THE HOSPITAL BED CAMPAIGN — Hired as a COVID spokesperson, George tested positive before launch. He ran the campaign from a hospital bed, brought in Fat Joe, DJ Khaled, Angie Martinez & Led Black — and won a Telly Award in eight weeks. 🧠 MENTAL HEALTH IS YOUR BUSINESS PLAN — Siembra Connect puts mental health, community, and mutual aid at the center of the creator economy. 📌 siembraconnect.com | @siembraconnect on Instagram and Threads ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 Mental Health, Creator Burnout & Siembra Connect Intro01:15 Welcome: George Torres, the Urban Jibaro02:02 How Octavio, Led & George Have Always Moved Together03:34 The Howard Beach Bias Incident of 198605:50 Meeting Richie Perez & the Young Lords06:56 What Is a Jibaro? Brooklyn Meets Puerto Rican Roots08:23 The First Latino Blog on the Internet (1997)10:12 GeoCities, Sofrito for Your Soul & Going International12:29 The Nassau County Museum of Art & Latino Masters Expo13:58 How George Started Building Websites to Keep the Lights On15:16 MiGente.com & the Rise of Latino Social Media34:02 What's Next for Social Media & the Creator Economy36:09 Why Uptown Collective's Framework Could Work Anywhere37:29 The Top Five Twitter Party & the $500 vs $5,000 Lesson40:20 Speed, Reputation & Being the A-Team of Social Media41:35 Running a Telly Award Campaign From a COVID Hospital Bed44:05 Fat Joe, DJ Khaled, Angie Martinez & Latinos Out Loud45:06 Claiming Your Genius: Stop Letting Others Hold Your Awards47:37 Personal Branding, Latino Identity & the Politics of Self48:33 The Projects Nobody Knows: UN, HBO, Disney, JetBlue & More51:27 The Charlamagne Lesson: Don't Lose Your Community Chasing Bigger53:08 LinkedIn, Photo Ops & Why You Have to Talk About Yourself55:00 Brands, Politics & Why Your Business Is Not a Megaphone59:39 The My Pillow Warning: When Politics Destroys a Brand01:04:18 COVID Backlash, Remdesivir & Speaking Up Anyway01:06:52 Respecting Your Community With Real Health Information01:09:42 Creator Isolation & How Siembra Connect Breaks Through It01:10:33 The Convite: A Community Gathering for Creators01:13:49 Siembra Connect: Teaching From Experience, Not From a Guru01:14:35 George's Offer: A Fireside Chat in Washington Heights01:15:11 How to Find George Torres & Siembra Connect01:15:35 Closing: Community Is More Than Business 🎙️ The Uptown Collective documents the culture, community, and voices that make Northern Manhattan one of the most extraordinary places in the world. ▶️ SUBSCRIBE: https://youtube.com/@uptowncollective?si=68xPv3IIxHrhJ2BQ🔔 Hit the bell. Like. Share. It costs nothing and means everything. ❤️ SUPPORT UPTOWN VOICES — TAX DEDUCTIBLEThe Uptown Collective Podcast is a fiscally sponsored project of the Maysles Documentary Center — your contribution is 100% tax-deductible.👉 Donate: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/CJ5HJSZ2JF97S Spread love — it's the Uptown way. 💙

    1h 18m
  3. The Rent Is Too Damn High & What You Can Do About It | Uptown Arts, Quality of Life & Community Power | Black & Blanco

    3D AGO

    The Rent Is Too Damn High & What You Can Do About It | Uptown Arts, Quality of Life & Community Power | Black & Blanco

    Another Sunday, another dose of real talk from Uptown. In this episode of Black & Blanco Uptown Voices, Led Black and Octavio Blanco cover everything happening on the ground in Washington Heights, Inwood, Harlem, and the South Bronx — from the fight to keep rents frozen, to the arts events you need to know about, to the quality of life battles playing out on the streets of Northern Manhattan. This is what community media looks like. Unfiltered. Hyper-local. And always Uptown. 🏠 THE RENT IS TOO DAMN HIGH — ACT NOWThe NYC Rent Guidelines Board is holding public hearings and a rent freeze is on the table. Register to testify or volunteer to canvass your neighbors.👉 rentguidelinesboard.cityofnewyork.us | organize.nyc.gov 🎨 UPTOWN ARTS STROLL KICKOFF — JUNE 1STLed and Octavio recap their live anniversary episode from inside the Sorolla Gallery at the Hispanic Society. The Uptown Arts Stroll kicks off June 1st at the Audubon Terrace — plus their second annual unofficial after party at Hilltop Ale House. 🖼️ NOMA & THE ARTS ECOSYSTEMAdrian Miranda's screenwriting & acting workshops at NOMA Studios, the Emmett Cohen jazz event at Harlem School of the Arts, the America the Beautiful exhibition opening June 5th, and Art in the Garden at the Ring Garden on Dyckman (submissions close May 31st). 📸 FREE HEADSHOTS — INVEST IN YOUR BRANDWest Harlem Arts Alliance, NOMA, OLA & Corazón are offering pro headshot sessions June 13th at NOMA Studios for $50. A game changer for any creator or entrepreneur. 💰 WEST HARLEM DC GRANTS — $5K TO $30KCommunity Benefits Grants available for 501(c)(3) organizations serving West Harlem. Deadline: June 5th. 👉 westharlemdc.org 🚮 QUALITY OF LIFE: GARBAGE, POOP & THE DRUG CRISISLed and Octavio get real about the open air drug corridor in the 180s, the need for more trash cans, and why this needs a multi-agency response. 🌉 TRANS-MANHATTAN EXPRESSWAY: CONCRETE IS FALLINGA dash cam video went viral after concrete fell from the ceiling of the expressway. An infrastructure alarm that needs urgent attention. 🏀 KNICKS CONFERENCE FINALSThe Knicks are in it and Led is fired up. Shoutout to Baka Backpages pop-up at 147 Orchard Street for the merch. 🏘️ COMMUNITY BOARD 12 & THE DOLPHIN PARK VICTORYHow community organizing pushed the Port Authority to finally reopen Dolphin Park after a decade of it sitting locked and empty. ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 The Rent Is Too Damn High — Register Now01:12 Welcome & Summer Vibes in the Heights02:05 Street Life, Safety & the Coming Summer03:17 Trans-Manhattan Expressway: Concrete Is Falling05:28 Fort Washington Corridor & the Drug Crisis08:32 Live at the Hispanic Society: Anniversary Episode Recap10:12 Inside the Sorolla Gallery — What Makes It Special13:10 The History of the Hispanic Society & Samuel Huntington15:08 Uptown Arts Stroll Kickoff June 1st & the After Party16:11 Support Uptown Voices: Tax-Deductible Contributions18:50 Why This Work Matters: Community, Connection & Growth19:03 NOMA: The Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance Deep Dive22:36 Emmett Cohen Jazz & Harlem School of the Arts23:19 Art in the Garden — Submissions Open Until May 31st25:01 Think Globally, Act Locally: The Uptown Philosophy27:35 The Battle for Uptown — Why Hyper-Local Media Matters29:21 West Harlem Arts Alliance: Headshots, Walking Tours & More32:13 Free Walking Tours of West Harlem with John Reddick33:29 Rent Guidelines Board: How to Make Your Voice Heard36:33 How to Register & Testify at the Public Hearings42:14 West Harlem DC Grants ($5K–$30K) — Apply by June 5th44:06 Pick Up Your Dog Poop — A Community Call to Action45:06 City Council's Trash Bag Bill & the Garbage Crisis47:25 Accountability: Us AND the City Need to Do Better50:12 The Drug Corridor, Blight & a Multi-Agency Response51:35 Carmen De La Rosa & the Uptown People's Project52:30 Community Board 12 & the Dolphin Park Victory58:16 Why the Community Board Is Your Most Underrated Tool59:24 Knicks Conference Finals & Baka Backpages Pop-Up01:01:00 Shoutouts & Closing 🎙️ The Uptown Collective documents the culture, community, and voices that make Northern Manhattan one of the most extraordinary places in the world. ▶️ SUBSCRIBE: https://youtube.com/@uptowncollective?si=68xPv3IIxHrhJ2BQ🔔 Hit the bell. Like. Share. It costs nothing and means everything. ❤️ SUPPORT UPTOWN VOICES — TAX DEDUCTIBLEThe Uptown Collective Podcast is a fiscally sponsored project of the Maysles Documentary Center — your contribution is 100% tax-deductible.👉 Donate: https://bit.ly/4eddiWT Spread love — it's the Uptown way. 💙

    1h 3m
  4. Dyckman Fire, Class War & Uptown Power: Holding Bad Landlords Accountable | Black & Blanco / Uptown Voices

    MAY 13

    Dyckman Fire, Class War & Uptown Power: Holding Bad Landlords Accountable | Black & Blanco / Uptown Voices

    In this episode of Black & Blanco / Uptown Voices, Led Black and Octavio Blanco open on Mother's Day with love for the mothers who hold it all together — then get into the real issues facing uptown. The Dyckman Street fire weighs heavy on this episode. Three lives lost, over 100 residents displaced, and a landlord — Jack Bick of Jan Jan Realty — who was already on the Public Advocate's list of the 100 worst landlords with over 1,000 fire and safety violations across his properties. Led and Octavio don't mince words: negligence this severe isn't just a housing violation, it's a matter of life and death. They play a clip of Council Member Carmen de la Rosa, who was on the ground within hours of the fire, and share resources for how listeners can still help displaced neighbors. From there, the conversation expands into the class warfare playing out across New York City and the country — from the Mamdani pied-à-terre tax and Ken Griffin's $238 million penthouse, to Trump's billion-dollar White House ballroom while SNAP benefits and Medicaid are being gutted. Led and Octavio connect the dots between predatory landlords, billionaire tax avoidance, and the slow displacement of the people who built and sustain this city. They also cover the rent guidelines board's upcoming public hearings — where a rent freeze is still on the table — and encourage listeners to make their voices heard before the June votes. On a brighter note: the Washington Heights Chamber of Commerce Policy Breakfast was a hit, with hundreds in attendance at the Armory. Uptown Voices celebrates becoming a fiscally sponsored project of the Maysles Documentary Center. And Octavio gives a glowing review of the New York Philharmonic and Rubén Blades bringing salsa and symphony together at United Palace. Plus: Knicks playoff talk, bodega electricity bills, and why you should be buying your coffee at Boonie, not Starbucks. In this episode: Remembering the victims of the Dyckman Street fire and how to helpLandlord accountability: Jan Jan Realty and the city's responseThe Mamdani pied-à-terre tax and the billionaire backlashTrump's billion-dollar ballroom vs. cuts to Medicaid and SNAPNYC Rent Guidelines Board hearings — how to participateWashington Heights Chamber of Commerce Policy Breakfast recapRubén Blades + NY Philharmonic at United PalaceKnicks playoff feverHow to help displaced Dyckman fire residents: NMIC — 45 Wadsworth Avenue (call first)Holy Trinity Church (call first)Community Board 12 — 530 West 166th St, 212-568-8500Assemblymember Manny De Los Santos — 210 Sherman Ave, Suite A&CCongressman Adriano Espaillat — 720 West 181st St, 212-497-5959Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal — 431 West 125th St, 212-531-1609Council Member Carmen de la Rosa — 618 West 177th St, 917-521-2616State Senator Robert Jackson — 5030 Broadway, Suite 701, 212-544-0173Rent Guidelines Board public hearings: rentguidelinesboard.cityofnewyork.us Hearing dates: June 4, June 8, June 11, June 16 Subscribe to Uptown Voices / Uptown Collective on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@uptowncollective?si=XIBtEAFy9VEo9ei4 Support Uptown Voices — a fiscally sponsored project of the Maysles Documentary Center. Your contribution is tax-deductible: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/CJ5HJSZ2JF97S 00:00 — Happy Mother's Day: Shoutouts & Love for the Mothers03:00 — Dyckman Street Fire: Lives Lost & Community Response06:10 — Carmen de la Rosa Clip: Leadership on the Ground09:00 — How to Help: Donation Sites & Resources for Displaced Residents13:50 — Led Speaks: The Reality of Being Displaced15:30 — Landlord Accountability: Jan Jan Realty & 1,000 Violations18:00 — HPD & the Mayor's Response to Unsafe Housing19:40 — Washington Heights Chamber of Commerce Policy Breakfast Recap21:30 — Jackie Aleman Clip: Chamber Leadership & 501c3 Restoration24:00 — Small Business Struggles: Rent, Electricity & Tight Margins27:10 — Uptown Voices Anniversary: Live Recording at the Hispanic Society30:00 — The Sorolla Gallery & Hidden Gems of Washington Heights33:00 — Buy Local: Skip Starbucks, Support Boonie33:30 — Support Uptown Voices: YouTube & Tax-Deductible Donations37:00 — Class War: Mamdani, Ken Griffin & the Pied-à-Terre Tax40:00 — The Billionaire Exodus Myth: Who's Really Leaving New York44:20 — Trump's Billion-Dollar White House Ballroom48:45 — The Met Gala, Wealth & People Power52:25 — NYC Rent Guidelines Board: How to Make Your Voice Heard56:00 — Knicks Playoff Talk: Sweep Season & Joel Embiid's Flopping1:00:40 — Rubén Blades & the NY Philharmonic at United Palace1:03:00 — Closing: Spread Love, It's the Uptown Way

    1h 5m
  5. From the South Bronx to the White House: Ambassador Julissa Reynoso on Diplomacy, Community & Resilience

    MAY 5

    From the South Bronx to the White House: Ambassador Julissa Reynoso on Diplomacy, Community & Resilience

    Former U.S. Ambassador to Spain and White House Chief of Staff to Dr. Jill Biden, Julissa Reynoso, shares how growing up in the South Bronx and Washington Heights shaped a trailblazing career in law, diplomacy, and now — playwriting. What does it take to go from a seven-year-old immigrant arriving in the South Bronx to serving as U.S. Ambassador to Spain and Chief of Staff to the First Lady of the United States? For Julissa Reynoso, the answer lies in the streets of New York City, a relentless commitment to community, and the belief that government can — and must — be a force for good. In this landmark episode of Uptown Voices, hosts Octavio Blanco and Led Black sit down with Ambassador Reynoso for a wide-ranging conversation that takes us from Dominican Republic to the halls of the Obama and Biden White Houses. We explore how advocating for immigrant rights at the Northern Manhattan Immigrant Rights Coalition shaped her legal and diplomatic instincts, how the diversity of New York City became her first classroom in international relations, and why she chose to tell her high-stakes diplomatic story through the unexpected medium of theater. Ambassador Reynoso opens up about her play Public Charge, which chronicles her experiences during the Obama administration — including navigating the 2010 Haiti earthquake response and the secret negotiations that helped reestablish U.S.-Cuba ties. She also speaks candidly about the current political climate, the targeting of immigrant communities, the prospect of military action against Cuba, and the timeless advice she offers to young people of color who find themselves as the only one in the room. This is an essential listen for anyone who believes that where you come from doesn't limit where you can go. ⏱ TIMECODE CHAPTERS 00:00  Cold Open  —  Ambassador Reynoso on the immigrant community and the responsibility we share00:58  Welcome & Show Milestones  —  Host Octavio Blanco announces 500-subscriber goal and fiscal sponsorship by Maysles Documentary Center03:05  Introducing Ambassador Julissa Reynoso  —  From Dominican Republic to Washington Heights — a daughter of uptown03:55  From the Heights to the Heights of Diplomacy  —  Led Black asks: How does a girl from DR rise to the pinnacle of leadership?05:27  Growing Up in the South Bronx  —  Arriving in New York City in 1982 — the neighborhood that shaped a worldview06:15  Washington Heights & Columbia Law School  —  Moving uptown, building community roots, and discovering foreign policy07:17  Advocating for Immigrant Rights at NMCIR  —  How frontline legal work for neighbors fueled a life of public service09:01  From Diplomat to Playwright  —  The story behind Public Charge and why theater was the right vehicle11:54  Why Theater Over a Memoir?  —  The power of live performance and the transformation of storytelling on stage13:05  Street Smarts & Secret Diplomacy  —  How New York City life prepared her for high-stakes international negotiations15:11  Government as a Force for Good  —  Can we still believe in public service? Staying optimistic under the Trump administration16:00  The Immigrant Community Today  —  Profiling, targeting, and discrimination — and the collective responsibility to do better17:07  Cuba at the Brink  —  The Senate's blocked war powers resolution and what military escalation means for the Caribbean19:45  Chief of Staff to Dr. Jill Biden  —  Living through COVID-19 and January 6th — and what she gained from the East Wing21:05  Advice for Young People of Color  —  On imposter syndrome, humility, relationships, and showing up in rooms where you're the only one23:21  Closing & Final Words  —  Gratitude, encouragement, and a call to subscribe and support Uptown Voices 📋 FULL SHOW NOTES About Ambassador Julissa ReynosoJulissa Reynoso is a Dominican-American lawyer, diplomat, and now playwright who has served at the highest levels of the U.S. government. Born in the Dominican Republic, she immigrated to the United States at age seven, settling first in the South Bronx before later moving to Washington Heights when she attended Columbia Law School. Her career spans community legal advocacy, presidential appointments, and international diplomacy. She served as U.S. Ambassador to Uruguay during the Obama administration, and was later appointed U.S. Ambassador to Spain and Andorra by President Biden — one of the most significant diplomatic postings in the Western world. Before that posting, she served as Chief of Staff to First Lady Dr. Jill Biden during one of the most turbulent periods in modern American history, encompassing the COVID-19 pandemic and the January 6th Capitol attack. Her play, Public Charge, draws on her firsthand experience navigating U.S. foreign policy during the Obama years, including the U.S. response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake and the groundbreaking secret negotiations that led to the reestablishment of diplomatic ties with Cuba. Key Themes in This Episode The immigrant experience as preparation for global leadership How New York City's radical diversity is a masterclass in diplomacy Using the arts to tell complex, underrepresented stories The power and limits of U.S. foreign policy in Latin America and the Caribbean Standing firm as a woman of color in predominantly white spaces Why humility and long-term thinking matter more than quick wins The ongoing struggle for dignity and safety in the Latino communityOrganizations & References Mentioned NMCIR — Northern Manhattan Immigrant Rights Coalition: Community legal organization where Ambassador Reynoso began her advocacy career Maysles Documentary Center — Uptown Voices' new fiscal sponsor, enabling tax-deductible contributions Uptown Collective — Founded by Led Black; YouTube channel approaching 500 subscribers Columbia University — Where Ambassador Reynoso attended law school and first settled in Washington Heights Public Charge — Ambassador Reynoso's play about her experiences in the Obama State Department U.S.-Cuba normalization — The 2014-2016 effort to reestablish diplomatic relations after decades of estrangement 2010 Haiti Earthquake — A pivotal moment in U.S. Caribbean foreign policy that features in Public ChargeNotable Quotes "I never assume that I'm done. I always keep pushing myself." — Ambassador Reynoso"My view of foreign policy and politics — they were carved and molded by my time in Washington Heights." — Ambassador Reynoso"New York City is a very extraordinary experiment in how to make different people talk to each other." — Ambassador Reynoso"The profiling, the targeting, the discrimination, the hate is not okay. We collectively have a lot of responsibility." — Ambassador Reynoso"Military ...

    25 min
  6. She Let Her Customers Run Her Coffee Shop — And It Went Viral | Sarina Prabasi of Buunni Coffee

    APR 28

    She Let Her Customers Run Her Coffee Shop — And It Went Viral | Sarina Prabasi of Buunni Coffee

    Sarina Prabasi co-founded Buunni Coffee in Washington Heights with her husband Elias in 2012 after moving from Ethiopia with two contacts, no business network, and a vision of what a neighborhood coffee shop could be. Thirteen years later, Buunni is one of upper Manhattan's most beloved community institutions — and Sarina is one of its most compelling voices. In this episode of Uptown Voices, hosts Octavio Blanco and Led Black sit down with Sarina to trace the full arc of the Buunni story: from roasting coffee in their kitchen and delivering bags door to door, to opening the Bronx's first specialty coffee roastery in Hunts Point, to landing their newest location inside Columbia University Medical Center. Along the way, Sarina reflects on what the Ethiopian coffee ceremony taught her about community, why she left a career in international development to plant roots in upper Manhattan, and how Buunni survived the pandemic without laying off a single employee. Sarina also opens up about writing her book The Coffee House Resistance — and why she's not sure she'd feel free enough to write it today. She talks candidly about navigating economic instability, tariffs, and the political climate as a small business owner who refuses to be neutral. And she shares the story of Melody — the Buunni regular who famously organized customers to babysit the café for a day so the entire staff could go to the beach. This is a conversation about coffee, yes — but really it's about what it means to build something that belongs to a neighborhood. ❤️ Support Hyperlocal Media Uptown Voices is a fiscally sponsored project of the Maysles Documentary Center. Your tax-deductible contribution helps us keep telling the stories that matter in upper Manhattan. Donate here: https://bit.ly/4eddiWT Find Buunni Coffee at buunnicoffee.com and on Instagram at @BuunniCoffee. Their new location opens May 4th at 701 West 168th Street in NYC.

    1h 1m
  7. Art, Anger & Accountability | Uptown Voices Live

    APR 26

    Art, Anger & Accountability | Uptown Voices Live

    Led Black and Octavio Blanco are back for another live Sunday session, bringing the energy, the community love, and the unfiltered conversations that make Uptown Voices essential listening for anyone who calls uptown home — or wishes they did. In this episode: 🎵 Uptown Cultural Roundup The guys kick off with a packed calendar of uptown events. Led shouts out NOMA's "America the Beautiful?" exhibit (today's the last day to submit!), plus the stunning free subway art installations at the 181st and 190th Street A train stations featuring artists like Fuego, Josefina Hernandez, and Frank de la Melcez. Mark your calendars for the Emmett Cohen Trio at Harlem School of the Arts on May 19th — Led calls him a straight-up wizard who literally plays inside the piano. 🎻 Gustavo Dudamel Comes to the Heights This one had them both buzzing. The legendary conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the New York Symphony are performing at United Palace — and tickets start at just $25 on boletos.com. Octavio connects Dudamel's roots in Venezuela's El Sistema — a music program for underserved youth — to the same community-uplift mission driving organizations like Jazz Power right here uptown. Don't sleep on this. 🌿 Cleaning Up the Block Uptown People's Project, in collaboration with Carmen De La Rosa's office, is organizing a neighborhood-wide spring cleaning on May 2nd across Washington Heights and Inwood — Dyckman, Nagle, 207th, Bennett Park, and more. Supplies provided. Volunteers needed. Octavio leads by example (Led caught him out here with a trash picker after a meeting 😄). 📚 Word Up + Boonee + Community Events Shoutouts to Word Up Books for their upcoming event at the Bronx Music Hall featuring authors Julia Alvarez and Angie Cruz (April 28th, 7–9pm). Plus, Boonee Coffee is hosting weekly writers' groups, chess nights, open mics, and more — and their episode drops this Tuesday! And don't miss the WAHEE Chamber of Commerce Policy Breakfast on May 7th — Led and Octavio will be live-streaming it since it's already sold out. 💬 The Hard Conversation: Youth Violence & Social Media A viral video of a 14-year-old boy body-slamming and stomping a girl in East Harlem hits different when Led and Octavio break it down. They dig into the dangerous intersection of poverty, social media, peer pressure, and toxic masculinity culture — and refuse to let it be just another headline. Their take is nuanced: hold the young man accountable, but ask why, and use this as a community wake-up call, not just outrage fuel. 🗳️ Politics, Anger & Accountability — No Sacred Cows Led doesn't hold back on his frustrations with both parties, and the guys get into it on the latest Trump news — from conspiracy theories around the Butler assassination attempt to the administration's pattern of disinformation. Octavio brings balance; Led brings fire. Che Guevara closes the show. Spread love is still the Uptown way — even when the hate is earned. Subscribe to Uptown Collective on YouTube — you're helping them hit their first sustainability milestone. Every sub counts. New episodes drop every Tuesday and they go LIVE every Sunday at 10am. 📍 Find them on YouTube, Instagram, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible, and wherever you get your podcasts. Spread love is the Uptown way. 🙏

    1h 2m
  8. "He Sold Out Harlem": Julien Segura's Blistering Critique of Al Taylor in the NY State Assembly Race

    APR 19

    "He Sold Out Harlem": Julien Segura's Blistering Critique of Al Taylor in the NY State Assembly Race

    About This Episode:In this high-stakes episode of Uptown Voices, hosts Octavio Blanco and Led Black sit down with Julien Segura, a Democratic Socialist candidate running for the 71st District of the NY State Assembly. Representing the vibrant neighborhoods of Washington Heights, Inwood, and Manhattanville, Segura doesn't hold back in his critique of the long-standing political establishment.    From the housing crisis and rising rents to the controversial OnPoint safe injection sites, we dive deep into the issues that are defining the future of Upper Manhattan. Segura specifically addresses his challenge to incumbent Al Taylor, raising serious questions about residency, representation, and who really "owns" the soul of Harlem and the Heights.    Key Topics & Chapters    00:00 — Welcome to Uptown Voices: Black & Blanco Live    00:35 — Technical Meltdowns and Equipment Upgrades    01:50 — Introducing Guest Julien Segura: Candidate for NY Assembly District 71    03:33 — Julien’s Personal Connection to Uptown & Growing up in Sugar Hill    06:40 — Critique of the "Political Machine" and Opponent Al Taylor    08:00 — The 18-40 Voting Block: Why a Generational Shift is Coming    10:02 — Why Run for Public Office? From Protests to Campaigns    12:15 — The Housing Crisis: Practical Plans for Resident Retention    14:30 — AMI, Tax Incentives, and Rethinking Affordable Housing Models    16:45 — Safe Injection Sites & Harm Reduction: Taking a Village Mentality    20:55 — Accountability in Community Contracts: The OnPoint Debate    23:45 — Addressing Quality of Life: Policing, Protests, and the Middle Finger    25:40 — Respecting First Responders While Challenging Unjust Authority    29:41 — What Does "Socialism" Mean in Uptown? Universal Healthcare & Education    31:50 — Campaign Finance: Rejecting PAC Money for Local Support    33:37 — Post-Interview Debrief: Spitting Fire Against the Machine    34:06 — Support Local Cinema: "Mad Bills to Pay" Opening Weekend    36:47 — Authentic Representation: Why Independent Latino Film Matters    42:16 — Community Shoutouts: Uptown Art Stroll & NOMA Deadlines    46:25 — Cultural Spotlight: Gustavo Dudamel at United Palace Theater    49:42 — Good News for Washington Heights: Dolphin Park Reopening    52:50 — Sports Update: Knicks Victory and Uptown Energy    54:30 — Final Reminders & Closing: Spread Love the Uptown Way    Connect with Uptown VoicesUptown Voices is a collaboration with Uptown Collective, dedicated to sharing the stories of Upper Manhattan and the South Bronx. Support hyperlocal news and stay informed on the issues that matter to your neighborhood.        * Subscribe to Uptown Voices: https://www.youtube.com/@UptownVoices    * Read more at Uptown Collective: https://www.uptowncollective.com/    Support Our WorkUptown Voices is a fiscally sponsored project of the Maysles Documentary Center. Make a tax-deductible contribution to our program here: https://bit.ly/4eddiWT    #UptownVoices #WashingtonHeights #Inwood #JulienSegura #AlTaylor #NYAssembly #UpperManhattan #LocalPolitics #HousingCrisis

    57 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Uptown Voices tells the stories of unsung heroes who are transforming New York City's Uptown neighborhoods from Washington Heights to Inwood to Harlem to the South Bronx. Each episode profiles an individual or organization making a positive difference. These social entrepreneurs, artists, and community leaders are navigating critical issues of affordability, public safety, and mental health. Through conversations rooted in journalistic integrity and genuine community ties, this podcast challenges negative narratives and celebrates the true spirit of the vibrant neighborhoods thriving north of Central Park. Each episode features extended interviews in which subjects tell their stories in their own words. The series examines the interconnected challenges facing Uptown communities—gentrification pressures, resource scarcity, systemic inequities—while simultaneously showcasing the creativity and collective power emerging in response. While uplifting the people shaping Uptown’s future, the podcast holds local elected officials accountable for the promises they make. During this pivotal time, Uptown Voices is creating a unique audiovisual archive. Uptown Voices is a fiscally sponsored project of the Maysles Documentary Center. Make a tax-deductible contribution to our program here: https://bit.ly/4eddiWT

Information

  • Creator
    Uptown Voices in collaboration with Livin' Americana LLC and Uptown Collective LLC
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    64
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    Uptown Voices

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